Can renters in Ottawa get March of Dimes funding for grab bars?

Renters in Ottawa can apply to the March of Dimes Canada Home and Vehicle Modification Program for grab bars, but the program requires landlord approval before it will consider the application.

The program lists grab bars as an eligible modification. To apply as a renter, you need written approval from your landlord. The program also requires that the applicant be a permanent Ontario resident, in financial need under its after-tax household income limits, and have a permanent, ongoing or recurring disability that impedes mobility and substantially restricts activities of daily living. The program funds up to $15,000 lifetime for home modifications, adaptations and devices, and there is no guarantee of funding. Solutions are as recommended by an Occupational Therapist, and quotes must come from a registered medical vendor or supplier or contractor.

One rule matters a great deal for timing: the program will not repay any cost incurred before it authorizes the work. Do not hire anyone or buy materials until the program has approved your application and given written authorization.

The program decides eligibility; this site cannot tell you whether you or your situation qualifies. To start, contact March of Dimes Canada directly to get the application package and confirm what landlord documentation they require. Amounts and program details are as published by March of Dimes Canada, checked September 2026.

Before any contractor begins, ask them whether they are registered as a medical vendor or supplier or contractor, since that is a condition the program sets for quotes it will accept.